General Motors is planning on unveiling a new line of midsize pickup trucks by the end of 2013 with gas mileage and custom features designed to rival the Toyota's Tacoma.
The new trucks will replace the GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado according to a company press release. GM North American President Mark Reuss stated that the smaller vehicles will still be able to do approximately 95 percent of the work that full-size GM trucks accomplish.
Truck sales have increased however as have car sales in general, allowing companies to focus on selling smaller trucks again.
Overall, pickup truck sales are up 12 percent so far this year at just over 450,000.
Sales for midzise and small trucks decreased after the recession as the companies cut back on spending. Ford Motor for example stopped selling their Ranger small pickup vehicle in the U.S. back in Dec. 2011 to focus soley on sales for its full-size F-150.
The new Canyon will be designed for people who need a truck for work according to the Associated Press.
The new Colorado will be aimed for younger drivers who use trucks to "haul recreation equipment and play outdoors." Reuss stated this week that the vehicle will be marketed toward a new generation of buyers looking for trucks, especially in locations like California.
In 2013, GM has sold just over 10,000 Colorados and slightly more than 3,000 Canyons. But sales of each are up almost 40 percent from the first quarter of last year.
Reuss isn't sure the company will keep the Colorado and Canyon names for the new models. All the President could confirm was that they'll be dramatically different once they're released according to the Associated Press.
The new models will be out sometime later this year according to GM.
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